Pages

Monday, April 14, 2014

That Time When....I Was Teacher of the Year?

I won teacher of the year at my campus.

I KNOW, huh???

I put in a lot of hours at work and I've said before that teaching is the hardest job I've ever had. I am profoundly grateful for the honor and must admit that I got a little teary when I thought about my life just prior to teaching.

I was a substitute teacher for two years and worked second jobs in order to make ends meet while I went and got certified to teach and looked for a teaching job. I had always fought against teaching even though my stepdad always advised me to get my teaching certificate as "something to fall back on" but I was adamant that teaching just wasn't for me. I had worked with students in truancy settings for about eight years so working with kids wasn't foreign to me but I just wasn't sure how well I would do with the same students on a daily basis. I knew it was a big commitment but once I started subbing I realized that teaching was something that I wanted to do so I began the process of finding an alternative certification teaching program.

During this time my air conditioning had gone out in my car and I had zero dollars to fix it; I was working two jobs and still struggled every month so this was an expense that I couldn't afford to pay for. So I had NO air conditioning in my car. In the summer. In Texas. THEN I understood why they said that the crime rate went up in the summer, I would be soooooooo mad whenever I had to drive, especially if it was in the heat of the day. Talk about ANGRY! I would take my clothes to work and change when I got there because I would be so hot and sweaty by the time I arrived.

Whenever I would get down, or feel that I didn't know where to turn, things would always seem to work themselves out. I remember once just having myself a good old woe-is-me, life for me ain't been no crystal stair kinda cry and then went to check my mail and someone had sent me a $100 check. That $100 was like $1000 to me, because I literally had to account for every amount of money that I spent, there was no room for error. I was blogging then but I never shared my story because it just seemed so personal to me, to share that I wore so many thrifted items because I couldn't afford to shop anywhere else. (E'em though I had cute thrifted stuff but a sister still wanted to be able to go to the mall every now and then.)

But now I realize that my situation was meant to share, that whole experience actually strengthened my faith in so many ways.

That experience was humbling, it was difficult, and it was also a testament to God's grace.

At one point I had packed up my things and made arrangements to move back with my mom for a while because I was so weary from the struggle. I desperately needed a break. A friend advised me to take ten minutes and pray about what I really wanted and I prayed that God would work things out for me and give me what I was asking for, which was a teaching job. Once I made the decision to stay I really felt a sense of peace. So I held on a few more months and when I had the interview at my school I instinctively knew that this was my school. And it was.

A book that I carry in my bag on a daily basis is called Write It Down, Make It Happen, it is based on the Bible verse "Write the vision and make it plain." It is a book about goal setting and visualizing our goals and what you 'see' you can manifest. Before school began for me this year I made a list of personal and professional goals that I wanted to achieve and one of the things that I wrote down and didn't share with anyone was that I would be Teacher of the Year.

Glasses: Warby Parker

Shirt: Thrifted

Skirt: Etsy (I had to get this altered, it was waaaaayyy too big and long)

Shoes: Gianni Bini

Bag: Christmas gift from my sister

This has happened quite a bit since I have read the book, last year I wrote down that I wanted to visit New York again (and Philly, but that hasn't happened yet) and I won the People magazine contest and my trip to New York! I guess I need to write down more stuff about my love life (although some of the things that I've written have manifested as well, just not to my satisfaction.) So just like I tell my students, what you envision for yourself and work towards should be limitless, don't put parameters on anything that you desire to do. It is all possible. I wanted to share my story in the hope that it can possibly bless someone else....

And now its offering time!! Congrats! And thx for sharing your story!!! It did me good and im sure it blessed many others...Thx for sticking to it and fighting for ur passion and ur vision....the babies need u!! I saw a quote the other day that read..." I help not because I can but because I can recall a time when I couldn't.." The struggle and the lessons learned from the struggle are always tied to our destiny....Thx for sharing the book too...Its on my list!! And this kitcot76....just couldnt get the profile to work but I wanted u to know......it wouldnt let me be great!!! Lol..

You have my spirit leaping on the inside!!!! It was something about your smile that drew me in.Your blog has changed me and motivated me!!!!Your test is your testimony!!!! My Mom always said without a plan there's no vision!!!! Congrats and I thank you!!!!

Yayyyy, way to go, I'm sure you're a great teacher. Looking at you I would've never guessed about the other stuff that happened to you. Your smile is always bright and you don't look no ways tired...Work it!!!

Congratulations...... Thanks for the inspiration! I needed your testimony. I teach as well. While I am loved by my students....I am often misunderstood by my colleagues. You have inspired me to hold on....my time is coming. Keep doing what you do...you are touching lives.

YAH!!!!!!Congratulations...what an absolute blessing. TEACHER OF THE YEAR!!! you should be so proud we are♡. Thank you once again for sharing with us your testimony. I hope you know how many of us you touch & inspire with your words. We continue to lift you in all of Gods love grace & light. THANK YOU♥

Hey Juanette, I love your blog and nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Check out the nominees post at http://nailcentric.net/versatile-blogger-award/Congrats on your Teacher of the Year achievement! I absolutely love your outfit, the vibrant lipstick color and that smile you are rocking it all with :)

Get Facebook Likes on your fb page, likes on your facebook pictures, followers on your facebook id, shares of your facebook posts, every thing is available here, visit for more detailswww.jobzcorner.com

Get Facebook Likes on your fb page, likes on your facebook pictures, followers on your facebook id, shares of your facebook posts, every thing is available here, visit for more detailswww.jobzcorner.com